Chris Johnson promises improvement

Titans running back Chris Johnson does his best work in the open field, where he can show off his blazing speed. Johnson hasn’t been there lately, however. For one reason or another this preseason he’s been stuffed, on many plays behind the line of scrimmage.

He hardly looks like the guy who ran for 1,228 yards and nine touchdowns during a Pro Bowl rookie season. But Johnson said he’s not worried.

“As one of the playmakers on this offense, I don’t think we’re really going to be worried unless we go out there against Pittsburgh and don’t do what we’re supposed to do,’’ Johnson said of the regular season opener on Sept. 10. “We are out here working to make sure it doesn’t happen against Pittsburgh.’’

In three preseason games, Johnson has gained 27 yards on 15 carries, a measly 1.8-yard average. Take away his 16-yard run against Buffalo in the preseason opener and it’s a mind-boggling low of 11 yards on 14 carries.

The Titans wouldn’t fare much worse than that if Kerry Collins took a knee after the snap. Johnson promised better results this Saturday at Cleveland, and in the regular season.

“I can assure you by the time the first game comes we’ll be a better offense,’’ he said. “And we’ll show when we play against Cleveland we’ll be way better than we were against Dallas.’’

Johnson had two carries for 3 yards against the Cowboys. He’d like more carries to get in a rhythm but, hey, it’s the preseason, he said.

“I don’t really like preseason because they kind of tease you,’’ Johnson said. “A lot of times you know how many plays you’re going to get and just off those plays you want to make a play so bad that sometimes you might take your eyes off a read and you might mess up. Going into a regular game you know you are going to play the whole time. Really, I just want to get to the regular season.’’